Takeaways from the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine

Summary of Takeaways from the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine

by The Athletic

1h 1m•March 2, 2026
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Overview of Building the Beast — Takeaways from the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine

This episode of Building the Beast (The Athletic) features hosts Dave Hellman and Dane Brugler recapping major lessons, surprises and prospect winners from the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. They cover macro trends (participation decline, timing/measurement context), position-by-position standouts (edge, linebacker, DB, TE, OL, receivers, RB, QB), notable measurements that will ripple through the draft, and what to watch next as pro days and team evaluations continue.

Key takeaways

  • Participation decline was the story: many prospects skipped drills (especially the three-cone), reducing data availability and skewing average results upward.
  • Three-cone drill is “on life support” — very low participation compared to previous years; teams miss a key short-area movement data point.
  • When players did test, some produced eye-popping results that will move their draft stock; others reinforced existing grades.
  • Interviews mattered: Sonny Styles drew unanimous praise in media/scout interviews — off-field process can push a player higher.
  • Film vs. testing remains critical: testing can highlight athletic potential, but teams will re-check tape where athleticism doesn’t match on-field production.

Drill & participation trends (big-picture)

  • Major drop in participation vs. historical norms: example cited — defensive line 3-cone participation fell from ~75% in 2017 to ~11% in 2026 for that cohort.
  • Cornerback 40-yard dash participation fell markedly (94% in 2017 → ~63% in 2026).
  • Resulting statistical artifact: combine averages were faster in many cases because slower/non-testing players sat out.
  • Teams generally assume non-participation can equal “hiding something,” so skipping tests carries risk in comparative evaluations.
  • Pro days will be important follow-ups — expect many skipped drills to be completed there.

Notable surprises & measurements

  • Reuben Bain: official arm measurement came in at 30 7/8 inches — a notable talking point that may influence how teams view him (short-arm edge/DT profile).
  • Combine timing context: hand-timed numbers are what teams often rely on for comparisons to pro days (official laser times are made-for-TV and not always teams’ baseline).
  • Several players posted unexpected freakish numbers that will force teams to re-evaluate their boards.

Winners and notable performers (by group)

Note: names and exact spellings reflect the transcript. This is a concise roll-up of guests’ highlights and impressions.

Defensive line / Edge

  • Arvel Reese — dominant across testing and field work; considered one of the top winners of the week.
  • Malachi Lawrence — breakout testing (explosiveness, 40/vert/broad) and strong buzz from scouts.
  • Danny Denis Sutton — impressed for his size/athletic testing.
  • Zane Durant — elite athletic testing, but hosts want tape re-check to align production with testing.
  • Reuben Bain — notable for arm length (short) but didn’t provide much on-field testing in Indy.

Linebacker

  • Sonny Styles — high praise across interviews, tape and testing; argued as a top-5 pick candidate and one of the safest “floor” prospects.
  • David Bailey — solid testing; checked boxes for a high pick.
  • Jacob Rodriguez — athleticism and three-cone impressed, rose on scouts’ radars.
  • Several other LBs (e.g., Jack Kelly [BYU], Kyle Lewis) had productive weeks.

Defensive backs / Cornerbacks / Safeties

  • Avion Terrell — strong positional drills and film; considered under-discussed and a likely top-20 type.
  • Takario Davis (Washington) — rare size/speed combo at near-6'4" and ~4.41 in the 40; traits intrigue but film shows inconsistencies (mirror, play strength).
  • Chris Johnson (San Diego State) — ran multiple 4.4s; validated his grade.
  • Toriano Pride Jr. (Mizzou) — posted a blazing 40 (approx. 4.32) and forced teams to re-check film.
  • Safety group depth noted: many teams will be comfortable drafting safeties across Day 2/3 — names mentioned include Caleb Downs, AJ Halsey, Bud Clark, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Keontae Scott, Zaki Wheatley, Genesis Smith, Jalen Kilgore.

Tight ends

  • Kenyon Sadiq — testing reinforced first-round upside; 40-time and explosion caught attention for top-15 consideration.
  • Eli Stowers — absurd vertical and athleticism; further raised his profile.
  • Sam Roush (Stanford) — notable for being one of the few to do every drill and showing positional versatility.

Running backs

  • Mike Washington (Arkansas) — emotional moment after a ~4.33 40; likely to vault his draft stock and be a Day 3/late-Day-2 target or higher for some teams.
  • Jeremiah Love — seen as a potential top-9 pick by hosts (difference of opinion exists, but viewed as a possible top-10 impact runner depending on team needs).
  • Ashton Jeanty — early career pause noted; context of team situations will matter for how teams use picks on RBs.

Wide receivers

  • Carnell Tate — ran the 40 (time near analysts’ projection); not expected to hurt his standing by testing.
  • Jacoby Lane — testing (4.47, 40” vert in transcript) and smooth on-field drills; raised curiosity despite on-tape concerns about play strength/predictability.
  • Jeff Caldwell (Cincinnati) — huge combine numbers for size (reported as similar times to the top “fast” WRs despite large frame) — will pop on team boards.
  • Bryce Lance (Trey’s brother?) — excellent testing for his size.
  • Malachi Fields — 3-cone under 7.0 at ~218 lbs (rare), even though 40 was slow.

Quarterbacks

  • Ty Simpson — best overall throwing/exhibition among QBs; live arm and clean mechanics.
  • Drew Allar — looked comfortable; value as a mid-round target persists.
  • Cole Payton — notable physicality: “jacked” and athletic; still raw craftsmanship issues.
  • Taylor (Taylin) Green — athletic freak numbers; potential flyer for teams intrigued by physical upside.
  • Overall: no transcendent QB performance that rewrites the class; several developmental/prospect quarterbacks to watch.

Offensive line

  • “Maxx” and Monroe Freeling — both boosted perceptions of OT athleticism; Freeling posted top-ish 10-yard split among tackles.
  • Spencer Fano — outstanding workout and positional work; arm length came in shorter than expected (32 1/8) — teams will debate tackle vs. interior fit.
  • Several interior OL and centers posted impressive lower-body explosion numbers (e.g., Caden Proctor big vert for >350 lbs; Parker Brailsford notable broad jump for a center).
  • Overall: deep OL class — maybe not a clear top-5 anchor, but strong Day 2–3 depth and many usable starters.

Notable quotes / scout-minded soundbites

  • “The three-cone is on life support.” — illustrative of the combine’s movement-test participation decline.
  • “If you’re not doing it, you’re hiding something.” — summary of how teams view prospects who skip workouts.
  • Sonny Styles: interview praise was near-universal; considered “bus-proof” (i.e., close to it) by hosts.
  • “Fastest for every position we’ve ever seen… except QB.” — artifact of selective participation.

How this affects draft posture / what teams should do next

  • Re-check film for players who tested far better (or worse) than their tape suggests — testing alone is not determinative.
  • Prioritize pro day follow-ups for skipped drills, particularly three-cone and positional work.
  • Use interview intel — players like Sonny Styles show the off-field process can materially affect draft slotting.
  • For teams weighing measurables (arm length, wingspan), re-evaluate scheme fit (shorter-armed tackles might project inside or require specific coaching).
  • Consider impact vs. positional value (hosts urged: value the player’s impact, not rigid position-value rules).

Short watchlist (names the hosts said to follow closely)

  • Arvel Reese
  • Sonny Styles
  • Malachi Lawrence
  • Reuben Bain (arm-length story)
  • Jacob Rodriguez
  • Zane Durant
  • Mike Washington
  • Jeremiah Love
  • Kenyon Sadiq
  • Eli Stowers
  • Spencer Fano
  • Jeff Caldwell
  • Toriano Pride Jr.
  • Jacoby Lane
  • Ty Simpson
  • Drew Allar
  • Monroe Freeling
  • Caden Proctor
  • Avion Terrell
  • Chris Johnson

Final notes & next steps

  • Combine provided clear winners and a lot of missing data — pro days and interviews will be critical to fill gaps.
  • Expect teams to use Combine film/testing plus pro day additions to finalize Day 1–3 boards; many prospects who skipped drills will be resolved later.
  • Hosts will continue coverage through the league year, free agency, and pro days — Friday/Saturday of the draft may be particularly deep and interesting.

If you want a concise “who moved up / who fell” list or a positional board update based on the hosts’ remarks, say which position and I’ll extract a short buy/sell style list from the episode recap.